Definition: old bottles

Nowadays, acquiring an old bottle is very rare in large retail outlets, but rather in those famous cellars, where the air is filled with the scent of dampness, wine and cellars. Auctions offer an interesting, sometimes sublime selection of old wines, despite a sometimes cruel lack of transparency regarding how they were stored in the past.
It is essential to note a few important points before making such a purchase.
The cellar and its impact on labels:
Ideally, you should be able to see the level of wine in the bottle and the external condition of the cork. A bottle that has stood the test of time, decades old and inevitably very respectable, but which has been subjected to the stresses of a poorly maintained, overly dry and warm cellar, may not reveal its shortcomings. The level may remain relatively high, but the condition of the label can be revealing.
A stained, spotted, damp, black label that smells musty is often synonymous with a bottle that has spent part of its life in a damp, cool cellar.
Conversely, a label that is torn, missing, rough to the touch or dried out will reveal ageing in a drier, warmer or simply more unstable environment – temperature variations being the sworn enemy of wine.
Corks
When it comes to the cork, checking it is more difficult, as it is protected by the foil cap. However, a bottle with a leak or a damaged cap may indicate that it has been stored in poor conditions.
The level
The level of the bottle is the most indicative and revealing factor concerning previous storage conditions.
Auction organisers quickly realised that it was essential to specify the exact level of each bottle offered in their catalogues.
In addition, the bottles are often stored in a room adjacent to the auction room a few days before the sale. This is the perfect opportunity for potential buyers to examine the bottles in their actual condition, which is much more accurate than by correspondence.
The higher the level of wine, the better the wine will be, and the better the chance for the buyer.
A level that is too low is inevitably very detrimental to the bottle itself, proving that the cork has not fulfilled its protective role.
Thus, this bottle with a very low level has suffered the constraints of a very dry cellar, which has made the cork fragile and brittle, allowing air to enter the bottle and thereby altering the precious liquid.
Ageing potential (in a nutshell)
Bordeaux wines, thanks to their complex blend of Cabernet and Merlot, often offer significant ageing potential.
Cabernets, with their high tannin and acidity content, are particularly well suited to ageing. These wines always require time and patience to develop their full potential.
Merlot, which is more rounded, fleshy and charming, develops more quickly; as a result, wines from the right bank generally mature faster than those from the Médoc (general observation, subject to change). Burgundy wines
Pinot Noir, such a capricious grape variety, often offers a more flattering, fruity and exuberant nose when opened. Its tannic structure is less aggressive than Cabernet.
However, the more concentrated grands crus offer very interesting ageing potential. But it should be noted that this grape variety does not tolerate oxidation well.
Conclusion
Over time, these wines develop wonderfully complex bouquets and smooth textures, leaving a perpetual mystery that is sometimes difficult to grasp.
So keep a close eye on the levels of your wines, their corks and their labels.
Ultimately, it all depends on the humidity and temperature of your cellar.
Let's return to the title of the article, which is well chosen at a time when recent vintages of fine wines are simply unaffordable!
Let us note a certain incompatibility between the level of the bottle and the appearance of its packaging, for example in the case of Château Mouton Rothschild. In order to maintain this level as well as possible, constant, low humidity and temperature are essential. However, under these conditions, the label suffers and becomes faded. Only the 2000 vintage, with its screen-printed bottle, will remain in the condition sought after by collectors.